Book- The photograph as contemporary art

By looking at the images in this book of Andrea Robbins and Max Becher’s work of German Indians meeting i can understand how documentary photography is evolving and contradicting the general assumptions that documentary is a visual proof and instead now shows realities of societies.

Gillian Wearing’s signs that say what you want them to say and not signs that say what someone else wants you to say showed everyday life with a difference. by asking strangers on the street of London to write something about themselves and then she photographed them, it revealed personal issues occupying their minds which would challenge the notions of traditional portraiture. it revealed more about the subjects than you would normally be able to tell in other documentary photographs, although i won’t be holding up signs in my own images i feel it is a interesting project which shows how powerful documentary photography is and i want to implement this power in my own work.

Allan Sekula photographs fruit pickers for jam companies who are aware they are being photographed but the casualness remains suggesting the images were quickly taken like a holiday snap. The depiction of marginalised groups that are socially overlooked are now more likely to appear in artists exhibitions than magazines. Sekula also examined the maritime industry and the problems they are facing, instead of picturing the sea ports as historical nostalgic place he pictured them as forgotten and a product of globalisation. This shows how important the composition and angle of the images is to the meaning for the viewer, one place can become completely different with one change, by photographing behind the scenes being a very common theme in documentary photos.

This is why I want to be careful in my composition and how the background might change the meaning for my image for the good or bad.

Photographer Research- Joel Meyerowitz

I wanted to do some more research into colour documentary photography so that i can implement it into my work.

Joel Meyerowitz is an American street, portrait and landscape photographer who began photographing in color in 1962 and was an early advocate of the use of color during a time when there was significant resistance to the idea of color photography.

“street photography was the only form of the medium that owed nothing to painting it was purely photographic.”

Speaking of his move into colour photography, Meyerowitz has said that colour “describes more things.” he explained, “when I say description, I don’t mean mere fact and the cold accounting of things in the frame. I really mean the sensation I get from things, their surface and colour, my memory of them in other conditions as well as their connotative qualities. Colour plays itself out along a richer band of feelings more wavelengths, more radiance, more sensation.”

This quote makes me understand why the use of colour in my project is important as it will help the viewer understand the weather, the time of day, the mood and relationship of the models etc.

” You fill up the frame with feelings, energy, discovery, and risk, and leave room enough for someone else to get in there”- this made me really think about photography and how we need to help the viewer understand the theme and emotions but also allow room for their interpretation. As well as this it is important not to overpower the image in terms of composition and colours as it become to busy for the viewer.

This image has so many different aspects to it along with so many different stories, firstly the dog poking out from the barrier after seeing the other dog on the street, you have the central man playing the harmonica while smoking and then various others filling the frame without making it too busy. I like the various accents of colour within the image with the bright yellow jacket, the red barrier complimented by the red awning which helps to lead the viewer into the background of the image. I also like the various moods within the frame, you have the happiness and laughter of the men to the left as well as in the background which is sharply contrasted by the man just off centre who gives a more inquisitive condescending glare.

Photographer research- Martin Parr

Martin Parr  is a British documentary photographer known for his projects that take an intimate look at modern life. Parr’s aesthetic is using a macro lens to produce close-ups, and using saturated colour, a result of either the type of film and/or use of a ring flash. This allows him to put his subjects “under the microscope” in their own environment, allowing them to expose their personalities and values in ways that provide humour and interesting information for the viewer.

“The fundamental thing I’m exploring constantly is the difference between the mythology of the place and the reality of it. Remember I make serious photographs disguised as entertainment. That’s part of my mantra. I make the pictures acceptable in order to find the audience but deep down there is actually a lot going on that’s not sharply written in your face. If you want to read it you can read it.”

Parr has written that “I had also encountered the post cards of john Hende when I worked at Butlin’s in the early 70’s and the bright saturated colour of these had a big impact on me.” He then went on to photograph working class people in nearby new Brighton, using flash and saturated colour to create the intimate photographs.

I like the alternative focus in the image, rather than a normal portrait where the model would be in focus he has reversed it, allowing focus on the busy street and beach as well as the landscape itself with the cliffs in the background. The close up angle creates an intimate photograph, although it is distorted by the blur you are still able to see the awkward expression on her face which makes me assume she wasn’t entirely comfortable with the photographing and may be a more reserved person. i also love the colours in the image as they are all quite toned down with a more pastel tone this allows the image to not become overpowered with colour.

This shows an alternative angle on the beach, from floor level and with the main focus on a foot. I like how the toe nails are painted a bright red as it draws the viewer in as well as complimenting the blue sea, yellow and green bags which shows the composition of the image is made up of many primary colours.

From my research i have found that i want to use some bright colours within my images providing a bright aspect whether it be a piece of clothing or a building in the background to draw the viewer in. I much prefer this colour photography to black and white as it provides an accent and something interesting for the viewer which may compliment the personalities or moods in the photograph rather than a very plain monotone image

Model research

mum and sister- mother and daughter relationship showing love or in contrast a lack of communication

grandparents- to show the nature of a long loving relationship

brother- to show a stereotypical teenager, could also use his friends

cousins- they are twins so might show how they have a better connection than your average siblings

mum and baby- will show a slightly different connection to a mum and a teenager relationship as they can talk and understand each other

sister and friend- laughing and making general conversation which would show a different relationship to all the above.

Location Research

Platters park- large area of green grass, paths all around, around 8 benches and a play area. The various benches will allow me to find the area of best lighting in the park as well as background.

Dulwich park– I would be visiting this area soon and as it is a huge park with a cafe, play area, gym equipment, lake it will be easy to find an ideal location.

Park on st Gregorys crescent, Gravesend- i am visiting this park soon, there is a church in the background which might be quite interesting, there are two benches that could be used.

Parkwood park- its nearby so easily accessible, there aren’t many benches unless inside the children’s park, the background isn’t as interesting, i will unlikely use this location

Wigmore park- nearby, quite a few benches, not necessarily an interesting background.

Book- Woman photographers by Boris Friedewald

‘It is the eye that takes the picture not the camera’ – Gisele Freund

Woman have tried to create photos as if they were taken by the male gaze such as naked photos by Bettina Rheims. As well as political viewpoints such as by Carrie Mae Weems, landscapes, personalities of various characters, everyday objects which give us the view of what it is to be human. All of the above have been achieved by both men and woman so why is it that not many women work as photo reporters or are being branded as a woman photographer which is limiting in comparison to just being a photographer that’s a woman.

Many woman photographers discovered photography after taking a different route in life such as Cindy Sherman realising she couldn’t create what she wanted with a paintbrush and pencil, Inge Morath being a photo editor but with no agency photographers available she took the images herself and mother of two Rosalind Solomon taking photos on a japan trip and discovering she learnt a lot more about herself at the same time. Whether they were discovered before or after death, forgotten and rediscovered all the photographers have created photos which have impacted the industries and people’s livelihoods.

Evelyn hopper- ‘in reality all we photographers photograph is ourselves in the other’

Dorethea Lange was famous for her migrant mother photograph from 1936, it should how powerful photos can be as the authorities immediately sent food supplies to the region as well as many sending letters and money to the mother when they discovered her name.

This is the book where I discovered Carrie Mae Weems and her kitchen table series which inspired my project idea. The books states that although the photos seem documentary they are actually constructed and show friendship, polygamy and motherhood. She wanted to show these relationships are not only relevant to black women and nowadays Weems is happy that women all over the world recognise each other in the photos, which is the same idea I want to express in my work.

Overall this book was very successful in helping me discover various photographers that may help me create or progress my ideas for my project and any future projects. As well as understanding how the photographers became famous and that it’s not always a straight path, as well as what photography means to them.

Photographer research- Robert Frank

Robert Frank was a swiss photographer as well as documentary film maker, his most successful work being The Americans, he was able to provide an outsider view of the American society showing relationships and segregation which was a harsh contrast.

Frank became a professional industrial photographer at the age of 22 and in the 1940s became a successful fashion photographer for Harper’s Bazaar magazine in Paris but by 1948 quit to pursue a less limited field of work, and went to the United States and Peru to explore possibilities of the 35-mm camera. Between 1955 and 1956 he drove across the country, taking a number of photographs 83 of those were published as The Americans, characterized by bold composition and ironic, sometimes bitter, social commentary.

What I love most about the series is the relationships he shows between people whether it be loving our segregated as well as it being from an outsider perspective meaning he isn’t influencing the photos in anyway to make his country more desirable. They images show what photojournalism and photography in general should be about, the truth, which I would like to project into my own work by experimenting with photographing complete strangers so I can have raw emotions reflected in my work.

This image clearly shows racism and segregation in the US as there is a clear divide between black and white people on the bus. The image has a frame with in a frame with the bus windows sectioning the image into 5: man, woman, children, man, women, which is all emphasised due to the contrasting colours of the windows and the rest of the bus. All of the passengers are looking across at the camera which I feel shows the raw emotions and allows the viewer to understand these better.

This image shows two couples on a bench, the couple on the left seem to be judging the others as they are both staring, although contrastingly they are smiling so maybe the 2 are known to each other. There is some mirroring in this image with both men wearing dark colours and the woman wearing lighter, this allows the viewer to be compare the body language and emotions more rather than what they are wearing which has provided a control variable.

Photographer research- Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus was an American photographer living from 1923 to 1971. She photographed people in familiar settings in their homes, on the street, in the workplace, in the park, this allows the subjects to be more free and open with the Arbus and create a raw photograph. Arbus received her first camera from Allan shortly after they married, Shortly after, she enrolled in classes with photographer Berenice Abbott. 1956 she began photographing the streets of New York capturing performers, men and woman wearing exaggerated makeup.

Arthur Lubow states, “She was fascinated by people who were visibly creating their own identities—cross-dressers, nudists, sideshow performers, tattooed men, the nouveau riche, the movie-star fans—and by those who were trapped in a uniform that no longer provided any security or comfort.”

Michael Kimmelman writes in his review of the exhibition Diane Arbus Revelations, “Her memorable work, which she did, on the whole, not for hire but for herself, was all about heart—a ferocious, audacious heart.”

The series that is most inspiring me and my work is Couples where she pictured the relationship between different couples. Taking inspiration from Arbus’ work i will also experiment with black and white as well as trying to capture the raw emotions in the picture. Below are some examples for her work:

The composition of this image shows a very controlling relationship rather than a loving, the way his leg is placed upon hers gives the impression hes holding her back. As well as this his face is very moody but hers contrasting is relatively happy. The black and white tone of the image compliments his controlling nature as well as allowing the viewer to focus on the emotions of the models.

This image is very contrasting with the previous as it shows the woman of the relationship being angry while the man is trying not to make a scene and continuing on the journey. However this is where straight photography restricts you as the viewer is unable to understand what happened to the couple and whether the man is truly in the wrong. Again the black and white allows the viewer to focus on the raw emotions in the image.

Environment mind map

In this mind map i tried to piece together all of my thoughts about the project and any relevant photographers that i may research if i went forward with that particular element of the environment. I not only looked at elements of the environment i also looked at definitions i found for the word environment which allowed me to understand better all the different aspects that make up an environment, not only nature but also culture and urban streets.

Photographer research- Vivian Maier

Maier was a street photographer most commonly picturing along the streets of New York city and LA. Her photos were unknown and unpublished during her lifetime and it wasn’t until her negatives were found by john Maloof, due to an auction of her storage space after failed payments, that they were published. Critic Allan sekula compared her as a female version of Robert frank and felt she photographed women and children in an unprecedented way. Joel Meyerowitz stated her work was “suffused with the kind of human understanding, warmth and playfulness that proves she was ‘a real shooter’.”

I found research on Maier to be very interesting as she spent most of her time being a nanny and took photos for fun, not knowing after her death she would be a world-renowned photographer with so many people looking up at her. In a few of her photos she focused on people sitting on benches and I wanted to see how she approached this in terms of angles and lighting. The two images below are very different in terms of angle with the right being much more intimate and up close, I much prefer the angle of the left as the lines of the bench draws you closer to the woman. In my own work I will look at using a similar composition but my move the angle even further to the left so the bench can create more leading lines. I like the use of black and white in these images as it forces the viewer to focus more on the people and their character traits instead of being distracted by the environment behind although it may have changed the moods of the images and helped with the story e.g. colder tones may have complimented the left image in terms of loneliness.

Maier’s images have increased my interest in street and documentary photography as its much rawer and more emotional than staged images and allows the model to express themselves fully int eh image as they are unaware. I also like the environmental portrait style of her work as it provides more context for the viewer as well as textures and information about their livelihoods.